Container packages

ABSTRACT

A CONTAINER PACKAGE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF CONTAINERS AND A CARRIER. EACH CONTAINER INCLUDES A GLASS BODY HAVING A BULBULAR LOWER PORTION AND CONCAVELY CURVED UPPER PORTIONS WITH A PERIPHERAL LIP DEFINING A MOUTH THAT IS CLOSED BY A COVER HAVING A PERIPHERAL SKIRT. THE BULBULAR BODY PORTION IS SUPPORTED IN A PLASTIC CUP THAT SERVES AS A BASE FOR THE CONTAINER. THE CARRIER COMPRISES A BODY WITH PORTIONS OVERLYING THE CAPS AND GENERALLY AXIALLY EXTENDING FINGERS WITH SHOULDERS. THE LOWER ENDS OF THE FINGERS ENGAGE THE CONCAVELY CURVED PORTIONS OF THE CONTAINERS AND THE SHOULDERS ARE ENGAGED BY THE FREE EDGES OF THE SKIRTS OF THE CAPS.

United States Patent RobertJJ-leier Whitehouse. Ohio 211 AppLNo. 814,756

[22} Filed Apr.9.l969 I [45] Patented June28, 1971 [73] Assignee0wens-Illinois,lnc.

[72] inventor [54] CONTAINER PACKAGES 28 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 206/65, 220/234, 294/872 [51] Int. Cl 865d 71/00,"

865d 85/62, B65d 85/30 [50] Field of Search 206/65 (C). 65 (C.T.), 65(E); 215/1; 220/234; 224/45-l.5; 294/872 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2.080947 5/1937 Lige0ur...; ..220/23.4(UX) 2,566,8049/1951 La Flamme et al. 24/45-l.5(UX) 3,199,909 8/1965 Di Domenico etal. 294/872 3,258,288 6/1966 Courter .r 206/65(C) 3,372,826 3/1968Heaton 215/] Primary Examiner-William T. Dixson, Jr. Att0rneys-J. R.Nelson and E. J. Holler ABSTRACT: A container package comprising aplurality of containers and a carrier. Each container includes a glassbody having a bulbular lower portion and concavely curved upper portionswith a peripheral lip defining a mouth that is closed by a cover havinga peripheral skirt. The bulbular body portion is supported in a plasticcup that serves as a base for the container. The carrier comprises abody with portions overlying the caps and generally axially extendingfingers with shoulders. The lower ends of the fingers engage theconcavely curved portions of the containers and the shoulders areengaged by the free edges of the skirts of the caps.

CONTAINER PACKAGES This invention relates to container packages.

In the handling of the containers, it is convenient to utilize carriersfor displaying, transporting and otherwise carrying the containers. Inone type of container such as disclosed and claimed in US. Pat. No.3,372,826, issued Mar. 12, 1968, the container comprises a glass bodywith a bulbular lower portion and a concavely curved upper portion witha peripheral lip defining a mouth. The mouth is closed by a cover havinga peripheral skin. The lower end of the bulbular portion of the glassbody is secured in a plastic cup which serves as a base for thecontainer.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a container packageincorporating the aforementioned type of containers; which packageeffectively holds the containers; which protects the cap; which holdsthe containers and prevents them from relative movement; to whichadvertising can be readily applied; and which package provides a readyrelease of the containers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention comprises a container packagecomprising a plurality of containers and a carrier. Each containerincludes a glass body having a bulbular lower portion and concavelycurved upper portions with a peripheral lip defining a mouth that isclosed by a cover having a peripheral skirt. The bulbular body portionis supported in a plastic cup that serves as a base for the container.The carrier comprises a body with portions overlying the caps andgenerally axially extending fingers with shoulders, the lower ends ofthe fingers engage the concavely curved portions of the containers andthe shoulders are engaged by the free edges of the skirts of the caps.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a carrier embodyingthe invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1 showingthe containers in position.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the manner in which thecontainers are firmly held in the carrier.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the underside of the carriershown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of a portion of the containershown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale ofa portionofthe package shown in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 2, the package 10 embodying the inventioncomprises a carrier 11 and a plurality of containers C. Each container Cincludes a bulbular lower portion 12 and a generally concavely curvedupper portion 13 that defines a lip 14 which, in turn, forms the mouthof the container. A cover or cap 15 with a peripheral skirt 16 isprovided and closes the upper end of each container. The lower end ofthe bulbular portion 12 is secured in a cuplike base 17 that holds theglass that the container cannot be removed by movement in a directionparallel to the plane of the body 18, preferably on the order of 45". Asshown in FIGS. 1 and 5, body 18 of carrier 11 is formed with arcuateopenings 26 overlying the fingers 21 and having an arcuate extent atleast as great as the shoulders 23, to facilitate molding of the carrierin one piece.

To facilitate handling, carrier 11 is formed with finger receivingopenings 27. The carrier 11 is applied by axial movement onto the upperends of the containers, the fingers flexing outwardly to clear theskirts of the caps and then radially inwardly to engage the free edgesof the skirts of the caps. In this position, the carrier holds thecontainers in rigid relationship body in upright position when the baseengages a horizontal surface.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the carrier 11 is made of plastic andcomprises a generally flat body 18 and a peripheral skirt 19. The flatbody 18 includes spaced portions 20 that are adapted to overlie the capsof the containers and spaced axially extending fingers 21. Each finger21 includes a lower generally convexly curved portion 22 that is adaptedto engage the complementary concave surface of the container and anupper portion defining a shoulder 23. The shoulder 23 is engaged by thefree edge of the skirt 16 of the cap. Each finger 21 includes axiallyextending ribs 24 on the outer surface thereof which merge into theunderside of the flat body 18.

The flat body 18 is formed with spaced longitudinally extending ribs 25,portions of which overlie the caps and engage the caps to hold the freeedge of the skirts of the caps against the shoulders 23. The arcuateextent of each finger 21 is such with the bases 17 in engagement withone another (FIGS. 2 and 3). When the carrier is tilted as shown in FIG.3, the containers remain in their position relative to the carrier anddo not hang downwardly in a fingerlike banana manner.

Carrier 11 is preferably made of plastic which has some rigidity butpermits flexing and return of the fingers to their original position. Asatisfactory plastic comprises linear polyethylene.

Iclaim:

l. A container package comprising:

a plurality of containers;

each said container comprising a glass body with a bulbular lowerportion;

and a concavely curved upper portion with a mouth defined by a lip atthe upper end;

a cap having a peripheral skirt closing said mouth;

and a plastic cup in whichthe bulbular lower portion is secured;

a carrier comprising a plastic body having a plurality of generallylongitudinally and transversely spaced integral portions;

adjacent portions being relatively rigid and interconnected;

each said portion overlying a cap on the mouth of a container;

and a plurality of integral fingers extending generally axially fromsaid body adjacent each said portion;

each said finger having a generally convexly curved container engagingportion and a shoulder above said portron;

the skirt of said cap engaging said shoulder;

each said finger being sufficiently flexible to permit flexing forinsertion of a container; and

the spacing of said carrier body portions and said fingers being suchthat said plastic bases abut one another when said containers are inposition on said carrier and maintain the axis of each container inpredetermined relation to the carrier.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said portions of saidfingers have substantially the same curvature as the adjacent portionsof the container.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said fingers have anarcuate extent such that the containers cannot be removed by lateralmovement in a direction generally parallel to the axis thereof.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein each said portion ofsaid body which overlies the cap has a downwardly extending rib whichengages the cap.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said rib extendsdiametrically of the cap of the underlying container.

6. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein each said finger has aplurality of axially extending reinforcing ribs on the exterior thereof.

7. The combination set forth in claim 1 including openings in said bodyoverlying said shoulders, said openings having an arcuate extent atleast as great as the arcuate extent of said shoulders.

8. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said body issubstantially flat.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein said body has aperipheral lip extending generally axially.

10. The combination set forth in claim 1 including means for forming ahandle on said carrier.

11. The combination set forth in claim wherein said lastmentioned meanscomprises spaced finger receiving openings.

12. A carrier comprising:

a plastic body having a plurality of generally longitudinally andtransversely spaced integral portions; adjacent portions beingrelatively rigid and interconnected; each said portion adapted tooverlie the cap on the mouth of a container;

and a plurality of'integral relatively flexible fingers extendinggenerally axially from said body adjacent each said portion;

each said finger having a convexly curved container engaging portion anda shoulder above said portion adapted to be engaged by a surface of thecontainer; and

each said finger being sufficiently flexible to permit flexing forinsertion of a container.

13. The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein said curved portionsof said fingers have substantially the same curvature as the adjacentportions of the container.

14. The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein said fingers have anarcuate extent such that the containers cannot be removed by lateralmovement in a direction generally parallel to the axis thereof.

15. The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein each said portion ofsaid body which is adapted to overlie the cap has a downwardly extendingrib.

16. The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein said rib extendsdiametrically ofthe cap which it overlies.

17. The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein each said finger has aplurality of axially extending reinforcing ribs.

18. The combination set forth in claim '12 including openings is saidbody overlying said shoulders, said openings having an arcuate extent atleast as great as the arcuate extent of said shoulders.

19. The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein said body issubstantially flat.

20. The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein said body has aperipheral lip extending generally axially.

21. The combination set forth in claim 12 including means for forming ahandle on said carrier.

22. The combination set forth in claim 21 wherein said lastmentionedmeans comprises spaced finger receiving openings.

23. For use with a plurality of containers, each said containercomprising a glass body with a bulbular lower portion, and a concavelycurved upper portion with a mouth defined by a lip at the upper end, acap having a peripheral skirt closing said mouth, and a plastic cup inwhich the bulbular lower portion is secured, a carrier comprising:

a substantially flat plastic body having a plurality of generallylongitudinally and transversely spaced integral portions;

adjacent portions being relatively rigid and interconnected;

each said portion adapted to overlie a cap on the mouth of a container;

and a plurality of integral relatively flexible fingers extendinggenerally axially from said body adjacent each said portion;

each said finger having a generally convexly curved container engagingportion and a shoulder above said portion adapted to engage the edge ofthe skirt of a cap;

each said finger being sufficiently flexible to permit flexing forinsertion of a container; and

the spacing of said portions of said body and said fingers being suchthat said plastic bases will abut one another when said containers arein position on said carrier and maintain the axis of each container inpredetermined relation to the carrier.

24. The combination set forth in claim 23 wherein said body has spacedparallel ribs, portions of said ribs extending across the portions ofsaid body which are adapted to overlie said caps.

25. The combination set forth in claim 23 wherein each said fin er has aplurality of axially extending reinforcin ribs.

6. The combination set forth in claim 2 including openings in said bodyoverlying said shoulders, said openings having an arcuate extent atleast as great as the arcuate extent of said shoulders:

27. The combination set forth in claim 23 wherein said body has aperipheral lip extending generally axially.

28. The combination set forth in claim 27 wherein said body has spacedfinger receiving openings.

